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Economic Summit Podcast
If you missed the Governor’s Economic Summit last week, you can listen to any of the breakout sessions free of charge. The sessions were recorded by UtahDialogue.com and are available for audio streaming or download at the Utah Dialogue web site. You can also purchase CDs that cover entire breakout session tracks.
Podcast Watch
In an interview with Utah Dialogue’s Ben McAdams and Charlie Luke, Bishop John C. Wester "discusses his impressions of Utah, his thoughts on serving in Utah, the 'Vatican' for the LDS Church (5:45), his noble goals as Bishop (7:35), his views on Utah's new school voucher law and the impact it might have on Catholic parochial schools (11:24), his motivations for becoming a priest (14:00), his views on immigration policy, the border fence and his personal goal to learn Spanish (15:36) and Mitt Romney's bid for the presidency as a Mormon compared to John F. Kennedy's election as a Catholic."
UTA Public Hearings
The Utah Transit Authority is holding the first of seven public hearings tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Brigham City Hall to solicit comment on its proposal for fares on FrontRunner and on proposed increases to its existing general fares over the next three years. For more info and for the dates and locations of upcoming hearings, click here.
Washington Watch
Hatch Bill Dishonest?
Columnist Wesley J. Smith says of Sen. Orrin Hatch's "Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Protection Act of 2007": "How can a bill to legalize human cloning be instead called a ban? Through the time-tested method of disingenuous legislating -- the bogus definition. Here's a rarely discussed truth: Key words and terms in legislation mean only what a bill's authors say they mean, rather than their actual definitions. ... [Hatch's bill] defines the term 'human cloning' inaccurately and unscientifically so that [Sen. Dianne] Feinstein and Hatch can pretend their bill will outlaw human cloning" (Weekly Standard); in a speech on the Senate floor, Hatch speaks out against the "Employee Free Choice Act," which would take away the right to a private ballot in union organizing elections (see press release).
4th Seat Perils for Matheson?
The Politico features an article by Utah blogger Steven Petersen, who argues that "[t]he best thing that could happen to Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) might be a continued congressional stalemate over a bill to give the District of Columbia a vote in the House of Representatives. ... Since entering Congress in 2001, Matheson has amassed one of the most moderate, even conservative, voting records among House Democrats. In redrawing the map to lump together Democratic strongholds in adjoining Salt Lake and Summit counties, the state legislature opened the door for a more liberal lawmaker to make a serious run for the seat."
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- Real Clear Politics: Columnist Michael Barone says, “Al Gore’s faith is bad science. … Gore likes to present himself as a tribune of science, warning the world of imminent danger. But he is more like an Old Testament prophet, calling on us to bewail our wrongful conduct and to go and sin no more. … The world's climate, he reports, is getting warmer. This accurate report is, however, not set in historic context. World climate has grown warmer and cooler at various times in history. Climate change is not some unique historic event. It is the way the world works.”
-- Esquire Magazine: In interview, GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel says of Pres. Bush: "The president says, 'I don't care.' He's not accountable anymore ... He's not accountable anymore, which isn't totally true. You can impeach him, and before this is over, you might see calls for his impeachment. I don't know. It depends how this goes."
-- Washington Post: Chris Cillizza ranks the presidential candidates from both parties.
-- Washington Post: Columnist Fred Hiatt says the six current presidential frontrunners -- Clinton, Obama, Edwards, McCain, Giuliani, and Romney -- may give way to second-tier candidates like Newt Gingrich and Fred Thompson because of "what the Big Six have decided they must do to compete in a front-loaded primary schedule, on the one hand, and the needy impatience, the hunger for titillation of our political culture, on the other. In the absence, month after month, of real tests -- that is, of votes being cast -- the marathoning candidates turn to other measures of seriousness: the millions they raise, the consultants they hire, the endorsements they rack up. But these all cut against the public's demand for fresh faces with new-generation politics."
-- New York Times: Article profiles Rep. Adam H. Putnam, a Florida Republican who "has become the unlikely mouthpiece for the beleaguered minority in the House, taking over as chairman of the Republican Conference, the third-ranking post behind the minority leader and whip, as his party struggles to right itself." Putnam "is candid in his description of Republican failings. 'We were tied up in our own petty issues,' he said. 'Middle Americans stopped listening to us.' Among Mr. Putnam's priorities, he said, are 'turning the lights back on in the idea factory' and getting the Republican message out in an age in which the methods of communication are evolving."
Today in Political History
March 27, 1794: President George Washington and Congress authorize creation of the U.S. Navy. (Source: perspicuity)
March 27, 1912: First Lady Helen Herron Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, plant two of thousands of Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Potomac River Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. (Source: NBC5)
Wise Words
“The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.”
-- Booker T. Washington 1856-1915, African-American leader and educator (Source: Quotes Exchange)
Communications Tip
Target Communications to Audience
Here’s a rule to live by: “Talking to everyone results in communicating to no one.” One of the most important things to do on a campaign is target. Target your time. Target your money. And target your message. Don’t try to “sell” a 30-year-old father of two the same way you “sell” a 75-year-old grandmother of 10. Ask yourself, “How does this policy/issue impact this voter?” Then, tailor your message for that person or representative group of people. Trying to “sell” your candidacy to everyone the same way ultimately means you won’t “sell” your candidacy to anyone. (Source: Campaign Tips)
Lighter Side
Favorite Headlines
(Source: James Taranto’s Best of Web at OpinionJournal.com)
World's Busiest Stalker
"Study: Nearly 1 in 5 Texans Victimized by Stalker"--headline, KPRC-TV Web site (Houston), March 24
Why Fight 'Em When You Can Drink 'Em?
"U.S.-Cuba Custody Fight Brews Over Girl"--headline, Miami Herald, March 24
Well, Except for Their Food
"Study: Cannibals Usually Dine Alone"--headline, LiveScience.com, March 23
Utah’s Top Issues
It’s a slow time for politics, but here’s our list of significant political issues, generated by observing what’s hot in the news media, what’s on the agenda of various policymaking groups, and what’s being discussed among opinion leaders and policymakers. We welcome suggestions and input from UPD readers. E-mail daily@utahpolicy.com.
Hottest of the Hot
- UEA referendum drive to erase HB148, the voucher legislation.
- Attorney General opinion on HB174, which amended HB148 and could keep vouchers alive even if HB148 is repealed.
- Referendum drive to cancel public funding of facilities related to the Real soccer stadium.
Emerging
- Salt Lake City mayoral race.
- Proposal from K-16 Alliance for lengthened school year and more flexibility, which could help solve teacher and classroom shortages and increase salaries significantly for teachers willing to work more days.
- Call for special session to deal with increased penalties for animal cruelty
- Mitt Romney presidential campaign
- Former Utahns’ involvement in U.S. Attorney firings
Mature
- 4th congressional seat for Utah.
- Education achievement gap of disadvantaged students
- Utah’s involvement in Western states primary
- Cyber-safety issues (cyber predators, child pornography, identity theft, Internet scams, etc.)
- Snake Valley water pumping for Las Vegas
- Downtown SLC massive construction/sky bridge
- Immigration
- Affordable heath insurance
Getting Old (but not totally resolved)
Oldies But Goodies
- Transportation funding
- Ethics reform
- No Child Left Behind
- Healthcare reform/Medicaid
Biggest Non-Issue
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